Low temperature distilling apparatus and method of using the same



June 7, 1932. v F, PUENlNG 1,862,034

LOW TEMPERATURE DISTILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME Filed Jan. 28. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1N VEN TOR.; Franz Pue/wy y ATORN June 7, 1932.

F. PUENING Low TEMPERATURE DISTILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD oF USING THE SAME Filed Jan'. 28. 1927.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. Franz ,Ouen/ng.

June 7, 1932. v PUEMNG 1,862,034

LOW TEMPERATURE DSTLLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME Filed Jan. 28, 1927 4 SheetSr-Sheet 3 June 7, 1932. F, PUENWG 1,862,034

LOW TEMPERATURE DISTILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME Filed Jan. 28. 1927 4 Sheets-sheet 4 r/43A\\ f\ )44\ d L s A i g s I l g A 67 INVENToR: 65 I 4 'a/:z/Dz/e/wny.y

Izzy/6 Fly/54" A Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATESA FRANZ PUENING, 0F @HABA-TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTYQVPENNSYLVANIA LOW TEMPERATURE DISTILLING APPARATUS AND .METHOD OF USING- THE SAME Application led January 28,A 1927. Serial No. 164,166.

My invention relates to low-temperature distilling apparatus that is adapted for distiiling carbonaceous material such as lignite, shale, peat or bituminous coal. My invention relates specifically to such apparatus as embodies heating walls that are suspended from one side thereof. v

My invention has for one of its objects to provide apparatus for low-temperature distillation of carbonaceous materials in which the heating walls therefor are so constructed and arranged that they are self-alining, regardless of temperature variations to which they may be subjected.

A second object of my invention is to` provide apparatus of the character Adescribed above in which the heating walls are provided with means for retaining and supporting material to'be treated and which are constructed and arranged to remain in vertical alinement in order to facilitate-the removal of the treated material.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus that may be easily and conveniently charged with material' to be treated and from which the treated material may be readily discharged. A

It has been proposed heretofore to provide heating walls that are suspended from one side or edge thereof. Inasmuch as such heating Walls have been constructed of cast iron or other. similar material that may be subjected to strains by reason of the varying temperature conditions, there is a tendency for the material to become warped and thereby render the operation of removing the treated material more ditlic'ult by reason of the misalinement of the spaces for containing the treated material and the pushers or other mechanism for removing the material.

In case the heating walls are composed ,of a number of sections or bars of material, it has been diiiicult to secure alinement of the several parts when they were assembled by reason of the fact that theirengaging surfaces are not parallel and, if the angles are cumulative, the walls are curved. In addition, the wall is not sufficiently flexible between the'various sections to permit the wall to straighten when it is heated.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide apparatus for the low-temperature distillation of carbonaceous materials in which walls are heated prior to the introduction of the material to be treated, the Walls preferably being provided with means for retaining and supporting a suitable amount of material to be treated by the correspond ing walls. The material is placed in position by filling the spaces between the vertical heating walls and then permitting the escape of any excess material. l

The heating Walls are so constructed that they are automaticallyv self-alining. The cross-sectional areas of various portions of the walls which are suspended from one side thereof diminish with the distance from the suspended side at such rate that the weight of the wall supported by any reduced portion is sutlicient when the wall is heated to insure that the reduced portion is bent, if necessary, to plrop'erly aline the various portions of the wa My invention' has been shown and-described in connection with apparatus that is similary in certain respects to that constituting the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 535,791, filed Feb. 11, 1922.

Reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional View of apparatus adapted for low-temperature distil lation embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar View, taken on the lin II-II of Fig. 1; v

v Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a heating wall and its corresponding supporting bar of the apparatus of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of heating wall;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a further modication;

Figs. 6 and 7 are side and end views, respectively, of a further modified form of heating wall;

Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views of a further modiication,

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a f portion of a sectional heating wall Figs. 11 and 12'are end views ofthe structure of Fig. 10; .j Figs. 13 and 14a1e side elevational and vertical sectional views, respectively, ,of a portion of a sectional heating wall havin modified means lfor connecting the severa sections;- and Figs. 15 and 16 are similar views of a further modiication.

Referring particularly to Figs. v1 and 2, a distilling chamber 1 is provided with walls 2 of any suitable refractory or heatinsulating material.l Within .the distilling chamber -1 are a plurality of vertical heating walls 3 that are suspended from watercooled horizontal bars 4. The. dist-illing chamber 1 is provided with an upper door or c over 5 com risingV an outer shell 6 of iron or other suitable material that is filled with any suitable heat-insulating material 7. The bottom of the distillingchamber 1 lis provided with.t two doors -8 that are each mounted on a horizontal axis, at 9.

The distilling chamber .1 is adapted to be heated by means of fuel, such, for example, as fuel gas, that may be supplied through a pipe'lll, air being supplied through a pipe 12. Gas and air flow into a mixing chamber 13 and are burned below the walls 3, suitable outlets yfor the waste gases being provided by ducts 14 that communicate with the upper portion of the'distilling chamber 1. Suitable dampers 15. are provided to regulate the openings in the ducts 14. The disf.

tilling chamberll 'is provided at the top with a suitable discharge outlet 16 for the gases of distillation that is controlled by a' valve 17.

. 'Referencemay now be had to Fig. 3, which illustrates, in enlarged detail, one of the heat-l ing walls .3. ,The wall 3, which mayl beef iron in any of its forms or similar suitable.,

material of comparatively high lheat capacity and high heat' conductivity, is formed with a number of horizontally-extending projecting portions 18 on Bitch 'side thereof. These projections 18 are curved upwardly 'to lany desired degree in Aorder that they mayl retain material thatmay be deposited in therecesses constituted thereby. 'The' projections 18 are-'preferably arranged in pairs von opposite sides of the central body portion 19. The upper end of the wall 3 is provided with an enlarged portion 2O through which extend holes 21 by means of which -it maybe secured to the corresponding bar 4.

VThe cross-sectional areas of the main body portion 19 between the projections 18 decrease downwardly substantially in accordance with the decrease in weight to be supported thereby. The lower enlarged portion of the wall 3 is of comparatively large cross-section in order that it may constitute a weight that is useful in assisting in maintaining the vertical alinement of the entire wall.

In the operation of the distilling apparatus of which the heating 4walls 3 are a part, the latter are heated to temperatures of substantially 1.4000 F., at which temperatures the material of the walls 3 is somewhatpliable. Accordingly, if the cross-sectional areas are' suticiently reduced at intervals, the weight of the wall and the material to be treated thereby are suiic-ient to insure the alinement of the wall, regardless of the strains that may be set up therein by reason of the variations in temperature ybetween .themaximum of 1400"- and the minimum to their open positions, indicated by dotand-dash lines-Fig. 1. Gas and air are admitted through the pipes 11 and 12, respec` tively, into the Imixing chamber 13. Combustion occurs in the open space below the distilling chamber 1 and the gases of combustion pass upwardly between and around the heatlng walls 3 and thence out through thedischargey outlets to the atmosphere or the stack, as may be arranged. Heat .is stored in the walls 3. When the walls 3 have .reached approximately their required-maximum temperature, the supply of air and gas is cut of and the doors 8 vare closed.

The cover 5 is then lifted, for exam-ple, by' aztruck 23, only a'po'rtion of thetruck being shown, that is provided with. levers 24 that are connected to the door 5 and v which are operated by means of a hand-screw 25. The truck is then operated to remove the cover 5 horizontally from its position over the distilling chamber 1 and a larry car 26 is placedj-inposition to discharge -bituminous coal, or other material ythat'is to be treated ofthe heating walls 3. `This arrangement insuresthat all of the -recesses constituted by the spaces between the projections 18 of the heating `walls 3 are filled with material. The'cover is then replaced in position to cover the distilling chamber 1. The doors 8 are then opened and all material in vexcess of that retained by the recesses of the heating walls is allowed to fall into the hopper below the distilling chamber 1, from which it may be removed and'returned by any suitable means to the coal-handlingA apparatus.

The dors 8l are again closed and the distill`ing operation proceeds. The gases of distillation pass upwardly and out through the discharge pipe 16 to any suitable or desired apparatus for treating or collecting the distillate..

When the distilling operation is completed the doors 8 are opened and the carbonized material is removed from the recesses in the heating walls 3 by means of a pusher mechanism shown in F ig.-2. This mechanism comprises a header or plate 30, from which-project pusher rods 31 that register and correspond in number with the recesses of the heating walls 3. Each of the rods occupies an opening 32 in one of the walls 2. The header 30, together with the pusher rods 31, is actuated by means of a rack-and-pinion mechanism 33 that maybe connected to any suitable power device (not shown).

By reason of the fact that heat is rapidly conducted to the coal, 'a layer of coke is formed adjacent to the surface of the heating wall and, accordingly, the carbonized material is readily removed from the heating walls. end of the heating walls into a space at the end thereof, whereupon it falls into the hopper below the distilling chamber 1. The material may be withdrawn from the hopper for shipment or stora e, as desired.

When the finished c arge is completely removed, gas and airare again admitted as in the manner previously described, and heat is againstored in the heating walls for' the succeeding operation.

Reference may now be had to Fig. 4, in which a modified form of heating wall is shown. In this heating wall 35, the reduced cross-sectional areas are produced by cores in molding the wall in case the latter is of cast iron, or horizontal slits 36 may be produced by a saw or other means.

In the heating wall 38 of Fig. 5, flexibility of the structure is secured by s'uprposing sections 39, one of the adjacent surfaces of which is provided with a central projectingl portion or lug 40, whereby the adjacent plane surfaces are not lin engagement. The assembled sections are retained in osition 'by means of vertically extendingZ bo ts 41. The bolts 41 are of suicient cross-sectional area to support the structure, but, when heated, are sufliciently viiexible to permit the weight of the structure to aline the several sections'.

.The heating wall 43 of Figs. 6 and 7 is provided with plane surfaces and flexibility The cokeis actuated to the farther v is secured by horizontal Yslits 44, the depth of which increases with the distance from the side from which it is suspended. This arrangement is similar in principle to that of the heating wall of Fig. 4.

The heating wall 46 of Figs. 8 and 9 is rendered flexible by means of openings 47 therev lengthv corresponding semi-clrcular recesses 55 of adjacent edges of the sections. As shown in Figs. 10 and 12, a pin 56 may be inserted in alined inclined holes 57 extending across adjacent edges of adjoining sections, or, as an alternative, adjacent ed es may be prevented from lateral movement gy means of rivets 58, such as are shown in the upper right-hand corner of Fig. 10.

In the heating wall 59, shown in Figs..13 and 14, adjacentsections 60 are secured together by means of a bar 61 of I-shape, which occupies slits 62 of substantially .T-shape in adjacent edges of the sections.

In the construction shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the heating wall 64 is composed of superosed hollow sections 65 that are substantialy rectangular in cross-section. The ad'acent sections are secured by bolts 66,'suita le holes 467v being provided whereby socket wrenches may be used.

f I have provided apparatus that is snitable for the rapid distillation of carbonaceous material-at lcw temperatures that may be constructed of inexpensive materials that are available in ylarge quantities. The ap,L

paratus for serving distillation apparatus of the character of my invention may be sijnple in character and few in number. Y. Y.

It is preferable that the material to be treated be pulverized and dry and, if desired,

-it may be preheated, in which case the distilling operation is materially shortened, as it is unnecessary to bring the coal to a temperature corresponding with that of the preheated material before the process of distillation bens. g1The heatin they are sel -aliningb reasonof their weight. Accordingly, t e recesses of the heating walls are always in alinement with the pusher rods of the pusher mechanism and the efliciency of the apparatus' is not impaired by warping of the heating walls. The latter. condition would" obtain i f.- the heating walls were of such width and cross-sections aswbeinaexible. i

walls are so constructed thatv sus The foregoing and other advantages will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains. While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it is probable that other modifications may Ybe proposed and it is desired, accordingly, that my invention be limited ony in accordance with the scope of the appen ed claiins. 1

I claim as my invention:

1. In distilling apparatus, a, heating wall that is suspended from one edge thereof, said heating wall being of such reduced horizontal cross-sectional area proceeding progressively from said edge and of metal that is exible when heated whereby it retains its vertical alinement when subjected to varying temperatures.

2. In distilling apparatus, a metal heating wall that is adapted to be subjected to varying temperatures, said heating wall having portions of progressively reduced horizontal cross-sectional area proceeding from one edge thereof whereby, when said wall is suspended from said edge, itslweight tends to retain its vertical alinement.

' 3. In distilling apparatus, a metal heating wall that is suspended from one of its edges,

l the horizontal cross-sectional area of certain of 'its portions varying substantially in accordance with the weight of the portion of the wall supported thereby.

4. In distilling apparatus, a metal heatin wall suspended from one edge thereof, sai heating wall having portions of reduced' cross-sectional areas, which areas vary substantially inversely jkwith the distance from said one edge.

/5. In distilling apparatus, a substantially rectan ular heating Wall suspended from' one e ge thereof and having horizontallyextending recesses for the reception and retention of material in stationary position to 6.In distilling apparatus, a heating wall suspended from one 'edge thereof and havported material.

8. The method of operating distilling apparatus having horizontally spaced. vertical members disposed side-by-side and provided with means for supporting material to be treated which comprises filling the spaces between said members with said material to insure a supply thereof for said retaining means and then permitting any excess or unsupported material to fall from said spaces. 9. The method of operating distilling apparatus having an enclosure containing a horizontal series of spaced vertical members provided with means for retaining material to be ,treated which comprises substantially filling said enclosure with said material to iny.sure the supplying of material for said retaining means and then emptying said enclosure of any excess or unsupported material. Y.

` 10. The method of operating distilling aparatus having an enclosure containing a orlzontal series of spaced vertical members lprovided with means for retaining material to be treated which comprises closino the bottom of said enclosure, substantially filling said lenclosure to insure supplying material to said retaining means, opening the bottom of said enclosure to permit any excess or unsupported material to ,flow from said enclosure, closing the bottom of said enclosure and then treating the retained material.

11. Distilling apparatus `comprising a horizontal seriesof spaced vertically extending members for supporting material thereon to be treated and means for supporting additional material between said members and operable to relieve the spaces between said members of any additional material therein. f

12. Distilling apparatus comprising horizontally spaced vertical members on'substantially the same level provided with means .for supporting material thereonl to be treated and means adapted to support additional material in the spaces between-said membersl and to permit said additional material to fall from said spaces.

I' 13. In distilling apparatus, a heati'iigwall.- comprising a plurality of 'vertically alined sections of metal, each of said sections, ex-

cept the uppermost section, being suspended from the one immediately above it, and connecting means vfor said sections comprising material of such small cross-section relative to the weight supported thereby that warping strains in one of 4said sections do not disturb the alinement of ad] acent sections.

' 14. Distilling'apparatus comprising a vertical wall having a plurality of substantially horizontally extending members that are adapted to support and retain ,thereoncoal to be distilled and are adapted to be heated to such temperature, and to store sufiicient heat therein, as to carbonize coal in contact' therewith, means for heating said members, and means for removing carbonizedcoal from said members. A

15. Distilling apparatus comprising a vertical wall suspended from one of its edges and having a plurality of substantially horizontal ledges extending outwardly therefrom, said ledges being adapted to be heated to such temperature, and to store suiicient heat therein, as to carbonize coal in 'contact therewith without the application of additional heat during the car onizing operation, means for heating said ledges, and means for removing carbonized residue from said ledges.

16. Distilling apparatus comprising a wall having a plurality of superposed substantially horizontal shelf-like members extending outwardly therefrom, said wall and said members being of material adapted to be heated and to store suiicient heat to coke coal placed on said members withoutthe supplying of additional heat during the coking operation, and heating means for said wall and n adapted to retain material thereon for treatment by said device, the heat-:storage capacity of said "device being such that coal on said members is carbonized withoutthe application of additional heat.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th day of January,

FRANZ PUENING. 

